A €2.5m sewage contract to protect the environment to the south of Dublin has been approved.

Éamon Ó Cuív, Minister for the Environment, Heritage and Local Government has announced that he has approved funding to allow Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council to accept the tender of Willis Bros Ltd for the €2.59m Dun Laoghaire Sewerage Scheme Phase 1 (Carysfort - Maretimo Stream Contract).

The contract is being financed under the Minister's Water Services Investment Programme 2010-2012.

-- Advertisement --

The Carysfort-Maretimo catchment experiences severe flooding during heavy rainfall, which this contract will prevent in future.

The Minister said: "The capacity of the stream will be increased in the environs of Sandyford, Stillorgan and Blackrock to ensure it is capable of dealing with surface water after heavy rainfall.

"This will be achieved by culverting particular sections of the open channel."

He continued: "I am very much aware of how important the scheme is to local householders and businesses, particularly those who had been affected by previous flooding."

The Minister also confirmed that his approval clears the way for work to commence and that he "will be asking Dun Laoghaire/Rathdown County Council to get construction underway as quickly as possible".

(BMcC/GK)